Summertime is Jazz Festival Time in Michigan

Weekly Series

Jazzin’ Wednesdays at Rec’ Bowl

For the eleventh consecutive summer, the Rec’ Bowl features Jazzin’ with Some Barbeque on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. from May 18 through September 28. It features an outdoor barbeque with covered seating, a dance floor, cash bar and great music. The location is 40 Crocker Boulevard in Mount Clemens and their phone is 586-468- 7746. The music is presented by the Greater Detroit Jazz Society.

Aretha Franklin Amphitheater

The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater on the Detroit Riverfront features a number of well-known smooth jazz acts this summer, like Kamasi Washington on August 31.

John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz Concert Series at Ford Lake Park

The John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz Concert Series at Ford Lake Park (formerly Frog Island Jazz Concert Series) features free concerts Fridays at 7:00 p.m. from July 1 through September 2. Ford Lake Park is at 9075 South Huron River Dr. in Ypsilanti. Parking is $5 per car.

Jazz In the Garden - Toledo

Toledo Metroparks put on a Thursday evening jazz series in July 7 through September 8. Concerts take place 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; the garden opens at 5:30. There will be a barbeque vendor on the grounds and baked goods will also be for sale. Tickets are $10 for general admission. The Gardens are located at 900 Oneida Street in Toledo (phone: 419-720-8714). Please park at Bancroft entrance.


Jazz Festivals

Summer Solstice Jazz Festival in East Lansing

The Summer Solstice Jazz Festival makes its way to downtown East Lansing June 17–18, featuring the very best of local, regional and national talent. This free-to-all festival is centered around a large tent located in the heart of downtown East Lansing in Parking Lot 1, 230 Albert Ave., Ann Street Plaza, located on the northwest corner of the Albert - M.A.C. intersection and the Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum, 547 East Circle Dr.

Jazzin’ at the Vanity

Jazzin’ at the Vanity is a two-day jazz and blues festival that is held between Newport and Lakewood Streets in Detroit. It celebrates both the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood and the historic Vanity Ballroom. This year's festival is Juneteenth weekend, June 18 & 19.

Elkhart Jazz Festival

The lineup for this year’s Elkhart Jazz Festival is impressive, as usual, as it includes some great names in swinging jazz. The list includes the Shades of Blue jazz band. The annual festival takes place June 17–19 in downtown Elkhart, Indiana.

West Michigan Jazz & Wine Festival

The West Michigan Jazz & Wine Festival is organized by the Book Nook and Java Shop in Montague (near Muskegon). Events include: evening concerts with wine tasting and optional dinner on June 30, July 1, 2, 7 & 12; morning concerts July 3 (optional brunch) & July 4; and a free outdoor concert July 5 featuring Edye Evans Hyde.

Ypsilanti Jazz Festival

The new Ypsilanti Jazz Festival features free concerts Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. July 2 – 30. Concerts are at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town.

Michigan Jazz Festival

The 27th annual Michigan Jazz Festival is Sunday, July 17, at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. The free all-day festival features music on seven simultaneous stages. See details in our July/August issue.

Flint Jazz Festival

The Flint Jazz Festival features live jazz, art, crafts, food, drinks under the giant oaks in Riverbank Park July 29 – 31.

JazzFest Michigan

The annual JazzFest Michigan (formerly Lansing JazzFest) happens August 4–6 on the streets of Olde Town Lansing.

Detroit Jazz Festival

The Detroit Jazz Festival is Labor Day weekend in Detroit's Hart Plaza and Campus Martius. The 2022 Festival is headlined by Chucho Valdés. See details in our July/August issue.


Blues Festivals

Jackson Blues Festival

The Jackson Blues Festival takes place June 9-11 at the Jackson County Airport, Reynolds Field, 3606 Wildwood Ave., in Jackson.

Alpena Blues Festival

The 18th annual Alpena Blues Festival takes place Saturday, June 11. The festival is organized by the Blues Coalition.

Blues by the Bay

The 20th annual Blues by the Bay festival takes place in East Tawas August 26–28.

Smokin’ Jazz & Barbeque Blues Festival

The Smokin’ Jazz & Barbeque Blues Festival comes to Main Street in downtown Brighton September 9 and 10. The lineup features some of the best blues and funky jazz in the area.

Michigan BluesFest

The Michigan BluesFest has been held in Lansing’s Old Towne since 1994. This year's festival is September 15–17.


Other Music Festivals

Top of the Park

The Top of the Park features several jazz and blues acts on the stage in front of Rackham on the central campus of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

Sterlingfest Art & Music Fair

The annual Sterlingfest Art & Music Fair features live music on the Jazz & Blues stage. The festival takes place on the city of Sterling Heights campus July 28–30.

Concert of Colors

The Concert of Colors, Detroit's Diversity Festival, is running for the 27th year around Midtown July 18 – 25.